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Kosambi Sutta

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Title: Kosambi Sutta: At Kosambi (On Knowing Dependent Co-arising)

Summary: Four good friends share a frank discussion about their grasp of dependent co-arising. One uses a memorable simile to describe the difference between stream-entry and arahatship.

(Similarly with 'From the cessation of becoming comes the cessation of birth'… 'From the cessation of clinging/sustenance comes the cessation of becoming'… 'From the cessation of craving comes the cessation of clinging/sustenance'… 'From the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving'… 'From the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling'… 'From the cessation of the six sense media comes the cessation of contact'… 'From the cessation of name-&-form comes the cessation of the six sense media'… 'From the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of name-&-form'… 'From the cessation of fabrications comes the cessation of consciousness.')

Then Ven. Narada said, “Pavittha my friend, it would be good if I were to get that question. Ask me that question and I will answer it for you.”

“Then Ven. Narada will get that question. I will ask Ven. Narada that question, and may he answer that question for me.”

(Ven. Pavittha asks the same questions of Ven. Narada, who gives the same answers as Ven. Musila.)

“Then, Ven. Narada, you are an arahant whose fermentations are ended.”

“My friend, although I have seen properly with right discernment, as it actually is present, that 'The cessation of becoming is Unbinding,' still I am not an arahant whose fermentations are ended.(2)It's as if there were a well along a road in a desert, with neither rope nor water bucket. A man would come along overcome by heat, oppressed by the heat, exhausted, dehydrated, & thirsty. He would look into the well and would have knowledge of 'water,' but he would not dwell touching it with his body.(3) In the same way, although I have seen properly with right discernment, as it actually is present, that 'The cessation of becoming is Unbinding,' still I am not an arahant whose fermentations are ended.”

When this was said, Ven. Ananda said to Ven. Pavittha, “When he speaks in this way, friend Pavittha, what do you have to say about Ven. Narada?”

Notes

In other words, he has attained one of the preliminary levels of awakening (stream-entry, once-returning, or non-returning), but not full arahantship. As Mv.I.23.5 shows, even the level of stream-entry affords a vision of the Deathless.

The image refers to two common similes for the full experience of Unbinding: (a) it is refreshing & nourishing, like drinking water (see Dhp 205); and (b) some arahants experience it as if touching it with the body (see AN 9.45).

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